After entering a guilty plea before Federal Judge Scott Coogler in Tuscaloosa, former Birmingham youth pastor William David Webb and his family left federal court and into a waiting car.
Attorney Tommy Spina says that the guilty plea was in his clients best interest. "He acknowledges his mistake and he's anxious to move forward."
In 2004 Webb was serving as youth pastor for "Word of Life Christian Center."
In March of that year Webb took a teenage girl to Oklahoma with intent of engaging in sex: a felony under federal law.
The maximum punishment for the offense in the federal system is 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
But the plea deal, if accepted by Judge Coogler, cuts the penalty to the minimum.
Webb would serve just five years in federal prison, pay $450 in restitution, cover $5,000 in counseling for the victim, and require Webb pay a federal fine which will be set by the Judge.
The news left many of the victims supporters stunned.
Cindy Miller says while she's glad her friend will be spared the embarrassment of reliving the incident on the stand, she believes a stiffer penalty is in order.
"Five years, I don't think is enough. And the dollar amount of restitution is ridiculous."
When the allegations surfaced within the church in 2007, they served as a dividing issue. Webb's father served as Senior Pastor of the church when the act occurred in 2004 and continues to lead the congregation today.
George Atchley says he left the church because his family is directly involved. "It's torn our family apart."
Many others also chose to leave the church following the incident. But now that the plea is in, Gil Franks says he hopes everyone involved can begin the healing process.
"There's been a lot of sad sad days in the past few years for a lot of people. And hopefully this will help move us down the road."
In addition to the plea agreement, state prosecutors may be dropping criminal charges in Alabama against Webb.
A state trial is scheduled to get underway in June. Whether that happens will be determined after Judge Coogler hands down his official sentence.
A final sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
Until that time William David Webb will remain free on his existing bond under the same stipulations set out under his previous release.
Those stipulations being that Webb will remain in his parents custody at their Trussville home where he is required to wear an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet.
